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ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH Today, 2:30 p.m. Bunche 10383 RASHID KHALIDI Today, 4:30 p.m. Faculty Center California Room

To provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of Middle Eastern politics and the ongoing conflicts within the region, the Center for Near Eastern Studies will host two events today about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Islamic organization.

Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Arab studies at Columbia University, will discuss his new book, “The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood,” and Avraham Sela, a professor of political science at Colgate University, will lecture on the history of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Since Israel came into existence in 1948, it has experienced nearly continuous conflict with Palestinians, who also claim a right to the land. After Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers this summer, violence erupted between Israel and the Islamic organization, which is based in Lebanon and denies Israel’s right to exist. Fighting began in July and resulted in thousands of deaths before the United Nations brokered a ceasefire on Aug. 14.

The conflict over the ownership of land between Israelis and Palestinians, which has lasted for over half a century, is also still volatile.

Khalidi’s book focuses on Palestinians’ struggle for independence and what he said he believes are mistakes Palestinian leaders have made in the past that have created problems for them to this day.

Sela plans to concentrate on the roots of the conflict that exploded this summer between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Part of the lecture will focus on Hezbollah’s association with Lebanon and how the country would be able to reform itself if Hezbollah were expelled from the country.

Sela’s lecture is one of many hosted by the department to discuss U.S. intervention into Middle Eastern politics, said Leonard Binder, director for the Center for Near Eastern Studies.

The lecture series, titled “The New Middle East: Five Years After 9/11,” will continue through fall quarter.

Binder said each of the lecturers will be attending the others’ events, and he said he expects a professional exchange of political thoughts and ideas between Khalidi, who specifically studies Palestinian history, and Sela, who is Israeli.

“We need to discuss within the framework of rational discourse important events in the Middle East, because these events are violent,” Binder said. “We can provide some service by offering lectures, workshops and symposiums, which add to the understanding of these important events.”

Sabiha Ameen, president of the Muslim Students Association, said she is pleased to see that students will have an opportunity to learn about Middle Eastern conflicts in an academic light.

“A lot of times, people just use assumptions (about the Middle East). They don’t really justify statements by facts,” Ameen said. “This will give students an opportunity to learn instead of talking out of ignorance.”

Leeron Morad, president of Bruins for Israel, said he sees Khalidi, who has written several controversial books, as an anti-Israel professor and said he is also bothered by the fact that much of Khalidi’s research is funded by anti-Israeli organizations.

Binder said he believes the lectures will be beneficial for students who have not yet developed political views concerning Middle Eastern conflicts.

“We’re looking for students that are not experts in the area to come and be informed,” Binder said.